Celtics' Powe has reasons to be proud

This is an article written by Geoff Lepper of the Bay Area News Group

photo by Frederic Larson

A proud papa, Powe

is playing increased role

Playing time was so scarce for second-year Boston Celtics forward Leon Powe at the start of this season that you couldn't be blamed for thinking his primary role was that of Coach Doc Rivers' human victory cigar.

Over the past month, however, it's been Powe's turn to light a stogie and celebrate.

After seeing 58 minutes of action in the Celtics' first 37 games, the Oakland native and former Cal star became a father for the first time - son Leon Powe III was born Jan. 16. Two days later, he played a then-season-high 15 minutes, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds against Philadelphia.

Powe was ready and able to fill in when Kevin Garnett went down with an abdominal injury against Minnesota on Jan. 25. Four days later in Miami, Powe had a career-high 25 points and added 11 rebounds for his second NBA double-double.

"In practice, I work hard, and every day I take seriously, especially games," Powe said. "I just tried to prepare myself and when (Garnett's injury) happened, I was ready to go out there and perform when called on. That's all me and my family talk about, just staying ready."

He's since had two more double-doubles and added a winning layup with 0.2 seconds remaining in the Celtics' 88-86 victory over the Timberwolves on Feb. 8.

"He's been terrific," Rivers said. "I'm more impressed that he's just hung in there. That's basically who he's been his whole life, and he just hung in there and never complained about not getting minutes, kept fighting - literally, sometimes in practice - every day, and earned his minutes. And that's who Leon's always been."

• In addition to Stephen Jackson's first game missed because of injury this season, Baron Davis played despite a painful bone bruise in his left leg.

"It's kind of funny that after five days off, we come back and we're more injured now than we were all year, it seems like," Warriors Coach Don Nelson said. "Who would have ever thought that? It doesn't work out the way you think sometimes."

A team spokesman said Jackson was considered day to day.

• For the second time this season, the Warriors set a franchise record for single-game attendance. The team announced a standing-room-only crowd of 20,711, breaking the previous record of 20,705 set Dec. 14 against the Los Angeles Lakers.